Method for optimized layer 2 roaming and policy enforcement in a wireless environment
First Claim
1. In a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more requesting wireless clients, a method comprising:
- monitoring pre-allocation activity corresponding to one or more wireless clients; and
applying a pre-allocation policy operative to limit a number of pre-allocations corresponding to a given wireless client and one or more wireless access points in the plurality of wireless access points.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating the application of pre-allocation policies in a wireless network environment. According to one implementation of the present invention, a central controller, or other control point in a wireless network infrastructure, applies one or more policies that limit the number of resource pre-allocations a given wireless client may establish with one or more wireless access points. In one implementation, the central controller provides a pre-allocation list to a wireless client that is requesting pre-allocation. By limiting a wireless client'"'"'s ability to pre-allocate resources, the central controller optimally manages the resources of the wireless network. In alternative embodiments, the central controller can terminate pre-allocations between a wireless client and one or more wireless access points to enforce pre-allocation policy on the wireless network infrastructure.
271 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more requesting wireless clients, a method comprising:
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monitoring pre-allocation activity corresponding to one or more wireless clients; and
applying a pre-allocation policy operative to limit a number of pre-allocations corresponding to a given wireless client and one or more wireless access points in the plurality of wireless access points.
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2. An apparatus operative in a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more requesting wireless clients, the wireless network comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a network interface;
a pre-allocation application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless network server to monitor pre-allocation activity corresponding to one or more wireless clients; and
apply a pre-allocation policy operative to limit a number of pre-allocations corresponding to a given wireless client and one or more wireless access points in the plurality of wireless access points.
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3. An apparatus operative in a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more requesting wireless clients, the wireless network comprising:
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means for monitoring pre-allocation activity corresponding to one or more wireless clients; and
means for applying a pre-allocation policy operative to limit a number of pre-allocations corresponding to a given wireless client and one or more wireless access points in the plurality of wireless access points.
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4. In a wireless access node of a wireless network comprising one or more wireless access points operative to conditionally pre-allocate resources to one or more wireless clients, a method comprising:
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receiving a wireless client identifier corresponding to a wireless client accessing the wireless network through a first wireless access point;
generating a pre-allocation policy for the wireless client; and
transmitting the pre-allocation policy to the wireless client. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless access node of a wireless network comprising one or more wireless access points operative to conditionally pre-allocate resources to one or more wireless clients, the wireless access node comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a network interface;
a wireless access point application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless access point to receive a wireless client identifier corresponding to a wireless client accessing the wireless network through a first wireless access point;
generate a pre-allocation policy for the wireless client; and
transmit the pre-allocation policy to the wireless client.
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10. A wireless access node of a wireless network comprising one or more wireless access points operative to conditionally pre-allocate resources to one or more wireless clients, the wireless access node comprising:
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means for receiving a wireless client identifier corresponding to a wireless client accessing the wireless network through a first wireless access point;
means for generating a pre-allocation policy for the wireless client; and
means for transmitting the pre-allocation policy to the wireless client.
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11. In a wireless management node of a wireless network comprising one or more wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more wireless clients, a method comprising
receiving a pre-allocation event message from a wireless access point, wherein the pre-allocation event message includes a wireless client identifier corresponding to a wireless client and the wireless access point; -
tracking the number of pre-allocations corresponding to the wireless client; and
causing a selected wireless access point to terminate a pre-allocation between the wireless client and the selected wireless access point if the number of pre-allocations exceeds a pre-allocation limit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless management node of a wireless network comprising one or more wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more wireless clients, the wireless network server comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a network interface;
a management application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless network server to receive a pre-allocation event message from a wireless access point, wherein the pre-allocation event message includes a wireless client identifier corresponding to a wireless client and the wireless access point;
track the number of pre-allocations corresponding to the wireless client; and
cause a selected wireless access point to terminate a pre-allocation between the wireless client and the selected wireless access point if the number of pre-allocations exceeds a pre-allocation limit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless management node of a wireless network comprising one or more wireless access points operative to pre-allocate resources to one or more wireless clients, the wireless network server comprising:
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means for receiving a pre-allocation event message from a wireless access point, wherein the pre-allocation event message includes a wireless client identifier corresponding to a wireless client and the wireless access point;
means for tracking the number of pre-allocations corresponding to the wireless client; and
means for causing a selected wireless access point to terminate a pre-allocation between the wireless client and the selected wireless access point if the number of pre-allocations exceeds a pre-allocation limit.
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21. In a wireless access point operative to associate with one or more wireless clients in a wireless network and operative to conditionally allocate resources for one or more wireless clients, a method comprising:
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receiving a pre-allocation request from a wireless client;
determining if the wireless client is a permitted wireless client;
establishing a pre-allocation with the wireless client, if the wireless client is a permitted wireless client; and
transmitting a response to the wireless client. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A wireless access point operative to associate with one or more wireless clients in a wireless network and operative to conditionally allocate resources for one or more wireless clients, the wireless access point comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a wireless network interface;
a wireless access point application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless access point to receive a pre-allocation request from a wireless client;
determine if the wireless client is a permitted wireless client;
establish a pre-allocation with the wireless client, if the wireless client is a permitted wireless client; and
transmit a response to the wireless client. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A wireless access point operative to associate with one or more wireless clients in a wireless network and operative to conditionally allocate resources for one or more wireless clients, the wireless access point comprising:
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means for receiving a pre-allocation request from a wireless client;
means for determining if the wireless client is a permitted wireless client;
means for establishing a pre-allocation with the wireless client, if the wireless client is a permitted wireless client; and
means for transmitting a response to the wireless client.
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26. In a wireless client operative to associate with a wireless access point in a wireless network and operative to reserve resources with at least one other wireless access point, a method comprising:
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associating with a first wireless access point;
storing a pre-allocation policy if the pre-allocation policy is received from the first wireless access point; and
applying the pre-allocation policy. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A wireless client operative to associate with a wireless access point in a wireless network and operative to reserve resources with at least one other wireless access point, the wireless client comprising:
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one or more processors;
a memory;
a network interface;
a wireless network driver application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the apparatus to associate with a first wireless access point;
store a pre-allocation policy if the pre-allocation policy is received from the first wireless access point; and
apply the pre-allocation policy. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A wireless client operative to associate with a wireless access point in a wireless network and operative to reserve resources with at least one other wireless access point, the wireless client comprising:
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means for associating with a first wireless access point;
means for storing a pre-allocation policy if the pre-allocation policy is received from the first wireless access point; and
means for applying the pre-allocation policy.
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Specification